Rue des Gardes - Young French Créateurs

Andre Niemeyer's "Money" 2004
Known as Rue de la Mode, rue des Gardes, Métro Barbès-Rouchechouart, is home to young fashion designers under the “Créateurs Goutte-d’Or” banner. Fourteen fledgling companies were selected to take part in this creative enterprise. Each designer was granted a space ranging in size from 28 to 172m², for a tiny annual rent of 61euros per m².

The Mairie de Paris was trying to boost this section of 18th better known as the best place to go to buy yourself a passport, something to get high or a stolen laptop, (rue des Islettes if you fancy a walk on the wild side). 

The rue des Gardes is a ray of hope in what has become an increasingly demanding industry in these difficult times. It's hard for young designers to afford to set up an atelier and employing production staff in France is prohibitively expensive.

Brazilian painter and stylist Ander Niemeyer showed his work at a joint event in rue des Gardes when the shops came together for a vernissage style opening one evening.